Wedge for tool handles



5. J. BORTZ I L HANDLES Aug, 19 1924.

Filed July 24, 1923 Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

SYLVESTER 1.30a on MUSKEGON, MICHiGAN.

WEDGE FOR TOOL HA DLES.

Application filed Ju1y'24,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvns'rnR J. Boa'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at city of Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wedges for Tool Handles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tool handles and more particularly to a wedge therefor.

The primary object of this invention resides in providing a wedge, for tool handles, which can be locked in the split end of the tool handle to prevent it from sliding outr wardly and thus allow the spread end of the handle to contract from engagement with the sides of the handle socket of the tool.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a wedge, for tool handles, of such construction that fastening elements can be driven therethrough so that their advanced ends will be deflected at an obtuse angle to their shanks and into the handle.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a wedge, for tool handles, having passages therein for the reception of fastening elements, which will direct the advanced ends of the fastening elements in a somewhat opposite direction to that in which they travel while being driven into the wedge.

Aside from the foregoing objects, this invention resides in the provision of a wedge, for tool handles, having passages extending obliquely to one another so the fastening elements, associated with the wedge, will enter the tool handle from opposite sides of the wedge.

Vith the above and other objects in View, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of elements to be hereinafter set forth in the specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andpointed out in the appended claim and, while the present disclosure fully depicts my presentconception of the invention, the right is reserved to resort to such changes as fall within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a,

part of this applications Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through 1923. Serial No. 658,599.

a hammer showing the elements of this invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2-is a sectional View approximately on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the wedge per se Fig.4 isa similar view approximately right anglesto Fig. 3.

Fig. '5 is a faceview of the wedge.

In the present illustration of this invention the letter H designates a hammer head having the usual handle socket S therein for the reception of an ordinary handle indicated at B.

. In tools of this character,.or in fact any form of tool having a removable handle, it is customary todrive a wedge in that end of the handle adapted to enter the handle socket of the tool to secure the tool on the handle and, after continuous use of the tool, a I

the ordinary wedge will retract and allow the tool to either rock on the handle or come entirely off.

To maintain the necessary rigidity between tools and their handles, I have provided a wedgefsuch as indicated at 5, the same being provided with obliquely extending passages 6 which are directed from the face of thewedge' to any desired points on, opposite sides of the wedge The aforesaid passages 6 preferably extend obliquely to one another and have their exit ends disposed somewhat in a return direction to that initially followed so as to deflect the advanced ends of securing elements 7 into the handle as they are dr ven 1n the face of the wedge.

The fasteninglements"? are preferably made of malleable iron and will readily yield to the gradually, deflected walls 8 of the passages and, through the provision of angular exits 9 of the passages 6, the protruding ends of the fastening elements will again straighten out as shown in Fig. 2 and pierce the handle of the tool in an outward direction, so the wedge will not retract until the fastening elements'are extracted.

Vith this invention fully set forth, itis manifest that a wedge has been provided which will maintain the maximum rigidity between tools and their handles and, through the instrumentality of the auxiliary fastenlOQ ing elements associated therewith, the wedge thereof toward one another and terminating in alignment in the transverse medial plane on opposite sides of the tapering portion of the Wedge and fastening elements guided by the passages With their inner extremities protruding into the handle.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

SYLVESTER J. BORTZ. 

